Valve spring lifter



July 16, 1935. H. A. BERKMAN 2,008,485

VALVE SPRING LIFTER Filed Sept. 15, 1933 Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES VALVE SPRING LIFTER Herbert A. Berkman, Chicago, 111., assignor to Zim Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Illinois Application September 15, 1933, Serial No. 689,511'

6 Claims. '(01. 29-363) The present invention has for its object to pro.- duce a simple and novel tool of a type comprising two arms hinged together at corresponding ends, which may be opened or closed, stepby step,

at the will of the operator.

' The invention is particularly applicable to tools for compressing or lifting the springs on the valves of internal combustion engines and, therefore, my invention maylbe said to have for its. object to produce a simple and novel valve spring lifter which can be used more conveniently and under a greater variety of conditions, and be more easily operated during both the compression and the subsequent expansion of a valve spring than in the case of any prior valve spring litter of which I am aware.

Some internal combustion engines for auto mobiles, particularly, are so designed that it is difficult to gain admission for a valve springlifting tool; and, if a tool has been adapted to meet one set ofv conditions, the result has invariably been to make the tool unfit for work on some other engine where a different set of condi tions are encountered. A type of tool that may be made practically universal in its application is that composed of two long arms hinged together at corresponding ends and having work-engaging elements at the other ends, since such a tool can be inserted through a small space underneath a valve spring. With such a tool there remains al-' ways the problem of an actuator which will oper-' ate successfully and with sufficient power, in a limited space, easily to effect the compression of the valve spring and then permit the spring to expand again without snapping back sharply or' require the operator to exert great care to prevent such snapping back. .There exists also another problem which is that of permitting the operator to let go of the tool at any time and have both hands free to do other work, While the valve spring remains securely held in any position into which it may have been brought at that time. Viewed in one of its aspects, the present invention may be said to have for its object to produce a simple and novel valve spring lifter construction which ofiers a satisfactory solution to these and other problems.

In carrying out my invention I employ two long arms which lie one upon the other so as to take up very little space in any transverse direction; corresponding ends of the arms being hinged together, and the other ends having suitable jaws or other elements that may easily be slipped between a valve spring and an adjacent stationary part of the engine. Attached. to the tool at the hinge end is a handle adapted to oscillate through a comparativelysmall angle and, in the preferred arrangement, standing, approximately at right angles to the arms. The handle swings about an axis parallel with and preferably close to the hinge axis of the tool. The handle is adapted to operate a pawl and ratchet device which in turn actuates suitable arm-spreading means that works with little friction; the pawl and ratchet meansbeing so constructed that the arms are spread through a short step during each forward and return stroke or stroke cycle of the handle or, if desired, the arms may be permitted to close through the same short step during each stroke cycle of the handle, at the will of the operator. The power applied to the handle is greatly multiplied so that little effort is required to operate the handle, and it may be oscillated quite rapid- 1y, both in opening and in closing thetool, so that the shortness of stroke of the handle does not militate against quick compression or release of a valve spring. By causing the handle to stand normally at about right angles to the arms, the tool may be effectively employed in an L-shaped space, for example, that will prevent the success ful use therein of a plier type of tool. r The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of itsobjects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the wherein:

Figure l is a side view of a'tool embodying the present invention in one of its forms, the tool being shown-in its closed position; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section in the plane of the relative swinging movements of the arms of the tool, the tool being shown closed in full lines and open in dotted lines; Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing a fragment of the tool, with the controller adjusted to effect step by step closing movements of the arms; and Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. '1.

Referring to the drawing, which. illustrates only one of the many forms which the present invention may take, I, l are two similar members of a long double arm and 2, 2 are the two members of a second, cooperating arm. The members I are widened at what may be termed their rear ends toprovide plate-like sections 3 of considerable height, and they aresecured together in spaced relation to each other by suitable transverse fastening elements 4 and 5. The compound accompanying drawing,

part formed of the members i, I lies between the two members 2 of the cooperating arm. The two arms are hinged together by a pin 6 passing through the rear ends of the members 2 and the intervening plates 3. The free ends of the arms have thereon suitably shaped heads or jaws 1 and 8, respectively, which may take any suitable form. When the tool is closed the jaws are in contact with each other or, at least, are close together. The members 2 "are curved downwardly just in rear of the jaw so that, when the tool is closed, the main portions of the member 2 lie at the sides of the other arm, thereby reducing the vertical height or thickness of the tool between the body portions and the enlarged hinge end.

The'forward ends of the two arms are connected together by means adapted'to open and close the jaws. This means comprises a lever that is more or less of a bell crank form. This lever lies in the space between the members i, l; the free end of the long arm it! of the lever is fastened to the members 2, 2 just behind the jaw 8, by a transverse pin Ii. At the angle of the lever is a second pin l2 that extends through longitudinal slots I3 in the. members I, I; and the second arm M of the lever extends downwardly and then rearwardly below the arms. This lever may therefore rock and also'move bodily throughout the length of the slots l3. Slida bly mounted between the members I in rear of the lever just described is a ratchet bar 15 .haV-

ing at the forward end adownwardly-extending part i6 that is attached to; the rear end of the lever arm i i by a transverse pin 11. The ratchet bar has therein a long longitudinal slot 18. A stationary pin 29 is fixed to and extends transversely between the members i, l and passes through the slot 58. Consequently, the ratchet bar is held in place by means that permit it to move lengthwise of the tool and also to rock. Obviously, a lengthwise movement of the ratchet bar is accompanied by a rocking movement of the bell crank lever.

Means are provided whereby, through the oscillation of a'suitable handle 21-, the ratchet bar is operated and controlled to cause the jawsto open step by step or permit them to close, in thesame way, under an imposed load.

The handle has wing portions 22 that lie on opposite sides of the enlarged rear end of the inner arm of the tool and between the latter and the rear ends of the arm members 2, 2; A pivot or hinge pin 23 extends through the wings 22 and the plate-like portions 3, 3; this, pin lying just below and near the hinge pin 6. Rockably supported on the pin 23, in the space between the plates 3, is a holding pawl 25 overlying and cooperating with. the teeth on the ratchet bar. Above the pawl 2d, and lying in the same plane, is an actuating pawl 25 pivotally connected to the handle 2| by a transverse pin 25. The pawl 25 extends across the top of the hinge pin 6, so that this hinge pin lies between the two pawls. The plates 3, 3 are provided with short arc-shaped slots 2? for the passage of the pin ,26. The oscillatory movements of the handle are limited by the length of these slots. The nose of the pawl 25 extends forwardly and downwardly for engagement with the ratchet bar in advance of or forwardly from the holding pawl.

Carried by the hinge pin 6 is a spring 28 extending radially therefrom in opposite directions for engagement with the upper edge of the holding. pawl and the under edge of the actuating pawl. On one outer end of the hinge pin 6 is a little handle or finger piece 30 by means of which the hinge pin 6 may be turned. This part is shown as being made of spring metal so that it will yield suihciently to pass over a lug or projection 3| on the adjacent plate 3, when pushed in the proper direction, and will then snap back against this plate afterpassing the projection or lug.

When the handle or finger piece 3!! lies below the projection or lug 3|, as shown in Fig. l, the hinge pin 6 is held in such position that the forward end of the spring 28 presses down on the front end of the holding pawl, while the rear end of the spring presses up against the rear end of the actuating pawl. Therefore both pawls are yieldingly pressed into engagement with the ratchet bar. Know, the handle 2| be oscillated, each forward stroke will push the ratchet bar ahead through a step of predetermined length and, while the handle is making a return stroke, the holding pawl prevents backward movement of the ratchet bar. 1 Inother words, during the forward stroke of a complete stroke to expand. Whereas the operation of the actu ating handles supplies the power for opening'the jaws, the energy stored in the valve spring sup-' plies the power for closing the jaws, the handle serving. simply to control the power in the spring so that the jaws will close step by step.

When the jaws are to be closed, the handle or finger piece 3?: is shifted so as to cause it to lie above the lug 3i,'as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby bringing the spring 28 into the position illustrated in Fig. 3; the front end ofthis spring now pressing up against the underside of the actuating pawl in front of the pivot pin 26, and the rear end of'the spring pressing down on the rear endof the holding pawl. Thus, the spring 28 now tends to hold both pawls out of engage-' ment with the ratchet bar. 'However, a stationary part, cooperating with the actuating pawl, forces it down into engagement with the teeth on the ratchet bar when the actuating handle is swung forward, and the actuating pawl drives the holding pawl down when the handle is swung back, so that the holding pawl engages with the teeth on the ratchet bar and takes the load so as to permit the actuating pawlto be swung up by the spring 23. the handle 2| is swung back, as in Figs. 1 andZ, a depression 32 in the upper edge of the actuating pawl lies directly under a part fixed to the plates 3; thispart, in the present instance, being one of the fastening pins or rivetsi. The actuating pawl may now swing. upand down Out of, and

into engagement with the teeth in the'ratchet bar; However, before the handlehas swung completely forward, a part'of the actuating pawl behind the depression engages with the underside of the rivet or-pin 5 and compels the nose of the pawl-to engage with the ratchet teeth.

Consequently,even-though the spring-28 tends t will be seen that, when to hold the actuating pawl up when theihinge pin firhasbeen adjusted into theposition shown in Fig; :3, the actuating pawlis forced down into engagement with the ratchet bar when the ham. dle is swung forward. The holding pawl is still held up by the spring 28 so that the pressure of the valve spring in a direction tending to close the jaws becomes effective to push the ratchet bar back and return the'handle 2! to its rearmost position. The friction between the nose of the actuating pawl and the ratchet bar prevents the pawl from becoming disengaged from the bar even after it has moved back far enough so that the pin or rivet 5 no longer prevents a lifting movement of the actuating pawl. On the under side of the nose portion of the actuating pawl is a nub or projection 33 that engages on top of the nose of the holding pawl when the latter is in its idle position, as indicated in Fig. 3, and presses this pawl down into engagement with the teeth on the ratchet bar, shortly before the actuating handle reaches the limit of its back stroke. Since the holding pawl cannot move back bodily, a further slight bodily backward movement of the actuating pawl, along with the actuating handle, transfers the pressure of the ratchet bar to the holding pawl and frees the actuating pawl so that it may be raised by the spring 28.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a simple and novel tool for alternately compressing and releasing valve springs, for example, step by step, with the expenditure of little effort, without requiring the use of two hands except, perhaps, at the time of applying the tool, and which permits both hands of the user to be left free at any time while the tool and spring remain securely in the positions of adjustment occupied at that time. It will further be seen that by reason of the peculiar construction of the tool it may be inserted through a space of small cross-sectional area or a long space and through what might be regarded as a tunnel having a right-hand bend in the same.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tool, two arms hinged together at corresponding ends and having work-engaging elements at their other ends, the parts being so constructed that in one relative position of the arms said elements lie close to each other and one above the other while the upper edge of the arm having thereon the upper of said elements does not project above the upper edge of the other arm, a handle pivotally connected to the tool at the hinged ends of the arms, a ratchet member movably mounted on the tool adjacent to said handle, means to open and close the arms operated by said ratchet member, an actuating pawl for the ratchet member connected to the handle, a holding pawl for the ratchet member, and controlling means to cause the said pawls to act on the ratchet member either to spread said arms or permit them to close, at the will of the operator, through a single short step during each stroke cycle of the handle.

2. In a tool, a pair of arms hinged together at corresponding ends and having work-engaging elements at their other ends, the parts being so constructed that indne relativeposition of the arms said elements lie close toleach other and one abovetheother whilethe'upper edge of the arm having thereon theupper oi said elements does not'iprojectabove the upper edge of the other arm, an operating handle connected to said arms at thehinge ends of the latter for limited swinging movements about an axis parallel to that of the hingebetween the arms; and opening and closing mechanism for said arms actuated by said handle and including a pawl and ratchet device to move said arms relatively to each other through a short step during each stroke cycle of said handle, and a controller to cause the relative step by step movements of the arms during a succession of stroke cycles of the handle to be either opening or closing movements at the will of the operator.

3. In a tool, two arms hinged together at cor responding ends and having work-engaging elements at their free ends, a handle movably mounted on the tool at the hinged ends of the arms, a lever pivoted to one of the arms near the free end of the latter, the other arm having a slot extending lengthwise thereof a considerable distance inwardly from the free end, a fulcrum pin projecting from an intermediate point on the lever into said slot, a ratchet member connectedv to the rear end of the lever, a holding pawl for the ratchet member, and an actuating pawl for the ratchet member carried by said handle. 7

4. In a tool, two arms hinged together at corresponding ends and having work-engaging elements at their free ends, a handle movably mountedon the tool at the hinged ends of the arms,

a lever pivoted to one of the arms near the free end of the latter, the other arm having a slot extending lengthwise thereof a considerable distance inwardly from the free end, a fulcrum pin projecting from an intermediate point on the lever into said slot, a ratchet member connected to the rear end of the lever, a holding pawl for the ratchet member, an actuatingpawl for the 5. In a tool, a pair of arms hinged together at corresponding ends and having work-engaging elements at their other ends, means to spread the free ends of said arm apart including a ratchet bar beside and extending in the general direction of the length of said arms, an operating handle pivotally mounted on said arms at the hinged ends of the latter, means to cause said handle normally to stand approximately at right angles to said arms and said ratchet bar and permit the handle to move onlythrough small angular distances from said normal position; and mechanism, including pawl devices cooperating with said rack bar and a controller, said mechanism actuated by said handle to cause said arms to spread or to swing toward each other, during each stroke cycle of the handle, depending on the position of the controller, through a short step.

6. In a tool, an arm comprising two long parallel spaced members, widened at corresponding ends, a second arm hinged to the first arm at the widened end of the'latter, the free ends of the arms being provided with work-engaging elements, a handle pivotally connected to the tool at the hinged ends of the arms, a movableratchet handle alwaysito remain in a positionapproim mately at right angles to the direction of the length of said ratchet bar or in positions "displaced through only short angular distances from the aforesaid position, whereby the handle will at all times be very nearly at right angles to the jdirection ofthe length of the arms and of the ratchet bar.

. HERBERT A. ,BERKMAN. 

